MX23RW : Wednesday, December 18 10:42:53| >> :600:100053:100053:
[monks data]
Rotherham logo
Championship | Gameweek 37
Mar 16, 2021 at 7pm UK
AESSEAL New York Stadium
Watford logo

Rotherham
1 - 4
Watford

Ladapo (68')
FT(HT: 0-3)
Sierralta (9'), Sarr (26'), Sema (39'), Gosling (69')

Rotherham 1-4 Watford: Hornets boost promotion bid with dominant win

Rotherham 1-4 Watford: Hornets boost promotion bid with dominant win
© Reuters
A 4-1 success boosted the Hornets' promotion bid.

Rampant Watford rattled off an eighth win from their last nine matches following a 4-1 romp at Rotherham.

Chile international Francisco Sierralta opened the scoring with his first goal in English football and further efforts from Ismaila Sarr and Ken Sema put Xisco Munoz's men firmly in the ascendancy at the break.

After Michael Smith had a penalty saved for the Millers, Freddie Ladapo pulled a goal back in spectacular fashion but Dan Gosling swiftly responded to extinguish any hopes of a comeback.

Rotherham had earlier started with purpose as captain Richard Wood hooked an edge-of-the-box attempt wide of the visitors' goal.

But it was the Hornets who forged ahead following their first forward raid of the game.

Sarr's deflected blast across the face of the home goal led to successive corners and Philip Zinckernagel's left-wing delivery was headed over stranded keeper Jamal Blackman by Sierralta on nine minutes.

At the other end, Smith was less clinical when he missed the target after rising high to meet Dan Barlaser's free-kick and Watford went on to double their lead on 26 minutes.

Another curling Zinckernagel cross from the left was only palmed out as far as Sarr by Blackman and the Senegalese attacker found the roof of the net from eight yards with an emphatic finish.

After Ladapo's ambitious 30-yard strike bounced wide for Rotherham, Blackman was then at full stretch to keep out a Nathaniel Chalobah effort from just outside the penalty area.

But the respite was short-lived as Sema drilled a low shot inside Blackman's left-hand post after being picked out on the edge of the box by Zinckernagel's corner.

Matt Olosunde's side-footed 15-yard shot called Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann into his first save of the night on 42 minutes, but Blackman still had to be quick out of his goal to deny Sarr when clean through before the break.

Less than three minutes into the restart, Wood made an excellent block to direct Joao Pedro's strike away from goal.

But Rotherham wasted an opportunity to reduce the deficit just past the hour after William Troost-Ekong was adjudged to have clipped Smith as he chased a long ball through the right channel and, after lengthy deliberation, referee Jeremy Simpson pointed to the spot.

Smith took the penalty, only for Bachmann to make a brilliant save low to his right.

The Austrian keeper was powerless on 68 minutes when Ladapo's 20-yard stunner swerved into his top-left corner but, within seconds, Watford netted for a fourth time as substitute Gosling found an inviting net after Blackman had parried a shot from fellow replacement Andre Gray.

The result meant Rotherham have now lost four consecutive home games, as well as their last five contests against Watford.

ID:439480: cacheID:439480:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5439:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Swansea City's Conor Hourihane celebrates scoring their first goal against Luton Town in the Championship on March 13, 2021
Read Next:
Tuesday's Championship predictions including Bournemouth vs. Swansea City
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Wycombe WanderersWycombe19134243222143
2Birmingham CityBirmingham18133234161842
3Wrexham20125330131741
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield19113530181236
5Stockport CountyStockport2096532211133
6Reading199463028231
7Barnsley208662926330
8Bolton WanderersBolton189362829-130
9Lincoln CityLincoln207762625128
10Blackpool197572931-226
11Mansfield TownMansfield187472222025
12Stevenage187471517-225
13Peterborough UnitedPeterborough197393735224
14Charlton AthleticCharlton196671819-124
15Exeter CityExeter197391721-424
16Wigan AthleticWigan196581716123
17Rotherham UnitedRotherham186571920-123
18Leyton Orient196491920-122
19Northampton TownNorthampton205692129-821
20Bristol Rovers1963101728-1121
21Crawley TownCrawley1954102032-1219
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge1945102031-1117
23Burton Albion1926111630-1412
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1932141939-2011


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!